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Congratulations for Katy and parr0t on tieing with their Slowbro sets! Let's go on for another shot:
Cycle 13: Nidoqueen!
Nidoqueen has been turning into a powerful threat since offensive Stealth Rock users became more common, alongside the likes of Metagross and Necrozma. Boasting great coverage backed by Sheer Force and access to useful moves like Taunt and Toxic, Nidoqueen can be a useful check to Tyrantrum, Raikou, Ribombee and Metagross with useful resistances and its powerful attacks. Being a gen 1 Pokémon and learning a plethora of useful moves, what can we come up with?
Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
Nidoqueen @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
Choice Specs coupled with its ability Sheer Force gives Nidoqueen a lot of breaking power. It hits really hard with its Dual STAB combination, which is Ground and Poison.
I gave Nidoqeen the coverage options in Fire Blast and Ice Beam.
Nidoqueen has the timid nature to outpace certain threats such as Metagross, Honchkrow and Modest Mega-Blastoise.
Calcs:
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 212-250 (62.7 - 73.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Sludge Wave vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Bewear: 319-376 (83.5 - 98.4%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Earth Power vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Bewear: 300-354 (78.5 - 92.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Blastoise-Mega: 187-222 (62.5 - 74.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Mandibuzz: 278-328 (65.7 - 77.5%) -- 25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Registeel: 216-254 (59.3 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Uxie: 169-199 (47.7 - 56.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Nidoqueen (F) @ Electrium Z / Firium Z
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder / Thunderbolt / Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
This set helps the Milotic and Bronzong matchup for Nidoqueen, as the respective Z crystals alongside the respective attacks. Thunder/Thunderbolt hit Milotic and Araquanid, where Fire Blast hits Bronzong. Both Z Thunder and Z Thunderbolt into either Thunder/Thunderbolt kill after rocks, with Z Thunder into Thunder killing without rocks. Z Fire into Fire Blast kills Spdef Bronzong always, even without rocks.
252 SpA Nidoqueen Gigavolt Havoc (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Milotic: 230-272 (58.3 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery (Thunder)
252 SpA Nidoqueen Gigavolt Havoc (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Milotic: 218-258 (55.3 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery(Thunderbolt)
252 SpA Nidoqueen Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 182-216 (53.8 - 63.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Nidoqueen @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail / Roar
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
This is as close as Nidoqueen can get to a defensive set without being outclassed by Dragalge, seperating itself through speed and rocks. It can annoy Voltturn teams, hazard removers like Tsareena and walls that don't mind Toxic.
Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Toxic Spikes/filler
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Reflect
General idea
Here we have a particular kind of Nidoqueen with the combination of Reflect + Toxic Spikes instead of Toxic + SR. Towards bulkier teams with Heal Bell Umbreon the regular poison deals more damage than Toxic because the latter is superior only on the 4th turn (included) onwards.
Toxic Spikes has a good synergy with Earth Power, which punishes the Poison types that absorb these hazards whereas Ice Beam punishes Defog Flygon. If the Flygon switches on our Reflect it has to choose between using Earthquake (a 2HKO towards Nidoqueen) or Defog. In both cases, we have the chance to OHKO Flygon with Ice Beam under the screens.
Reflect, even without Light Clay, on a predicted switch is a good thing to stomach one Earthquake and retaliate back.
Calcs:
252+ Atk Flygon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 169-199 (52.6 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zygarde-10% Thousand Arrows vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 207-244 (64.4 - 76%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Snorlax Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 180-212 (56 - 66%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Snorlax Self-Destruct vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 268-316 (83.4 - 98.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Refrigerate Glalie-Mega Double-Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 250-295 (77.8 - 91.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Nidoqueen (F) @ Shuca / Yache Berry
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
Almost standard at this point, but very slept on regardless. Following the wave of offensive rockers, resist berries on Nidoqueen can be pretty useful. Shuca Berry can allow Nidoqueen to lure in Zygarde, Flygon, and Donphan, while Yache Berry covers a lot of random coverage and allows Nidoqueen to 1v1 Blastoise way more comfortably.
Vote on your favorite Nidoqueen set!
Reserving choice specs Nidoqueen
View attachment 163726 Nidoqueen @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
Choice Specs coupled with its ability Sheer Force gives Nidoqueen a lot of breaking power. It hits really hard with its Dual STAB combination, which is Ground and Poison.
I gave Nidoqeen the coverage options in Fire Blast and Ice Beam.
Nidoqueen has the timid nature to outpace certain threats such as Metagross, Honchkrow and Modest Mega-Blastoise.
Calcs:
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 212-250 (62.7 - 73.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Sludge Wave vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Bewear: 319-376 (83.5 - 98.4%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Earth Power vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Bewear: 300-354 (78.5 - 92.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Blastoise-Mega: 187-222 (62.5 - 74.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Mandibuzz: 278-328 (65.7 - 77.5%) -- 25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Registeel: 216-254 (59.3 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Sheer Force Nidoqueen Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Uxie: 169-199 (47.7 - 56.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Nidoqueen (F) @ Electrium Z / Firium Z
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder / Thunderbolt / Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
This set helps the Milotic and Bronzong matchup for Nidoqueen, as the respective Z crystals alongside the respective attacks. Thunder/Thunderbolt hit Milotic and Araquanid, where Fire Blast hits Bronzong. Both Z Thunder and Z Thunderbolt into either Thunder/Thunderbolt kill after rocks, with Z Thunder into Thunder killing without rocks. Z Fire into Fire Blast kills Spdef Bronzong always, even without rocks.
252 SpA Nidoqueen Gigavolt Havoc (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Milotic: 230-272 (58.3 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery (Thunder)
252 SpA Nidoqueen Gigavolt Havoc (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Milotic: 218-258 (55.3 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery(Thunderbolt)
252 SpA Nidoqueen Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 182-216 (53.8 - 63.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
View attachment 164536
Nidoqueen (F) @ Firium Z
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Toxic Spikes
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
Simple set-- melt all steels, including bronzong, for Toxic Spikes to be as effective as possible. Reduced Knock Off damage is handy as well.
Nidoqueen @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail / Roar
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
This is as close as Nidoqueen can get to a defensive set without being outclassed by Dragalge, seperating itself through speed and rocks. It can annoy Voltturn teams, hazard removers like Tsareena and walls that don't mind Toxic.
Reflect Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Toxic Spikes/filler
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Reflect
General idea
Here we have a particular kind of Nidoqueen with the combination of Reflect + Toxic Spikes instead of Toxic + SR. Towards bulkier teams with Heal Bell Umbreon the regular poison deals more damage than Toxic because the latter is superior only on the 4th turn (included) onwards.
Toxic Spikes has a good synergy with Earth Power, which punishes the Poison types that absorb these hazards whereas Ice Beam punishes Defog Flygon. If the Flygon switches on our Reflect it has to choose between using Earthquake (a 2HKO towards Nidoqueen) or Defog. In both cases, we have the chance to OHKO Flygon with Ice Beam under the screens.
Reflect, even without Light Clay, on a predicted switch is a good thing to stomach one Earthquake and retaliate back.
Calcs:
252+ Atk Flygon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 169-199 (52.6 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zygarde-10% Thousand Arrows vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 207-244 (64.4 - 76%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Snorlax Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 180-212 (56 - 66%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Snorlax Self-Destruct vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 268-316 (83.4 - 98.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Refrigerate Glalie-Mega Double-Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen through Reflect: 250-295 (77.8 - 91.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Nidoqueen (F) @ Shuca / Yache Berry
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
Following the wave of offensive rockers, resist berries on Nidoqueen can be pretty useful. Shuca Berry can allow Nidoqueen to lure in Zygarde, Flygon, and Donphan, while Yache Berry covers a lot of random coverage and allows Nidoqueen to 1v1 Blastoise way more comfortably.
uhh, congratulations for me! Let's go for one more cycle with the fire tire:
Cycle 14: Donphan!
Once considered purely a joke Pokémon, Donphan spiked into relevance and become a great Pokémon due to its ability to blanket check many physical attackers, while having access to both Rapid Spin and Stealth Rocks and huge power with STAB Earthquake and Knock Off. Despite being a somewhat easy Pokémon to check offensively, Donphan is a hard Pokémon to switch into in many situations and can pack a lot of coverage moves to surprise it's opposition. What can we do with it?
Donphan @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
Donphan @ Choice Band
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
Earthquake is Donphans high base power STAB and really reliable, meanwhile Ice Shard is a form of priority and it can OHKO Zygarde 10% and is a OHKO after Rocks on Specs Swellow.
Knock Off hits Bronzong for super effective damage and has a 50% chance to OHKO it after Rocks damage. Gnnk Shot is to lure in grass types such as Virizion, Venusaur and Tsaarena.
All in all this Donphan set acts very offensive and takes advantage of the metagame trend, which has a lot of grass pokemon on each team because Gunk Shot is able to act like a lure to these pokemon.
Some Calcs:
252+ Atk Choice Band Donphan Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Tsareena: 412-486 (144.5 - 170.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Donphan Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Venusaur: 237-279 (78.7 - 92.6%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Donphan Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Virizion: 532-628 (164.7 - 194.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Donphan Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Bronzong: 290-342 (85.7 - 101.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Donphan Ice Shard vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Swellow: 204-242 (78.1 - 92.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Donphan Ice Shard vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zygarde-10%: 360-428 (144.5 - 171.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
does normal donphan stuff as usual, but sacrifices bulk for nabbing suprise KO's on stuff that would usually scare out and beat Donphan. For example, Araquanid usually walls donphan, and can outrun it and liquidate. Due to the negative Priority however, and sturdy, Counter obliterates it. Groundium into Earthquake destroys Milotic and can OHKO Bewear after rocks. Also helps keep rocks up vs Mandibuzz trying to taunt+foulplay you with Counter just eating it.
Z-Bounce allows Donphan to lure in Grass and Bug Types that would come in for free like Araquanid, Golisopod or Tsareena, aswell as Virizion, Roserade, Ribombee and Shaymin.
This variant of Donphan utilizes The Iapapa Berry. This item is optimal because it’s able to make it last longer throughout the battle, due to Donphans only form of recovery being from Rest and Leftovers. Albeit this just does the same shit Donphan always does, the extra recovery is a huge burden taken off of Donphan’s back due to it always being susceptible to chip throughout games.
Donphan @ Rockium Z
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Head Smash
- Rapid Spin/Stealth Rock
Rockium + Head Smash allows donphan to nuke mons that are otherwise safe switchins such as golisopod, mandibuzz and mantine. 96 speed lets donphan outspeed and kill 252 speed mega-aboma. Also hits cloyster if it chooses to setup on donphan who is otherwise bait.
252+ Atk Donphan Continental Crush (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mandibuzz: 316-372 (74.5 - 87.7%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Donphan Continental Crush (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0+ Def Mandibuzz: 396-466 (93.3 - 109.9%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Donphan Continental Crush (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mantine: 408-480 (109 - 128.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Donphan Continental Crush (200 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Abomasnow-Mega: 432-510 (134.5 - 158.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Donphan Continental Crush (200 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Cloyster: 270-318 (112 - 131.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Donphan Continental Crush (200 BP) vs. 168 HP / 0 Def Golisopod: 338-398 (101.5 - 119.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Donphan has a good bulk but a low Spe, which leaves it prone to be worn down easily.
The combination of Sturdy + Rest allows this Donphan to use Rocky Helmet effectively: this way you can deal some extra chip damage repeatedly.
Beware of Knock Off, though.
Without the Rocky Helmet, Rest is still useful to recharge Donphan's HP in order to make good use of Sturdy.
Teammates support
Hazards control in the form of Defog is recommended, whereas a Heal Bell user is appreciated to get rid of the sleep more efficiently.